Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-11-25
Barnum's Great Show Building
Laid in Ashes.

BR1paEpoRT, Conn, Nov. 90
The main building Of Barnum's
Greatest Show on Earth was entirely
DESTROYED at 1890 this evening by
fire. The first intimation of the fire
was the roaring Of the lions, ana
within half an hour OF that time the
building was in ruins. After the
lions, the elephants took up the howl
ilg. There were six watchmen on
the premises but they were helpless
1t is feared that one of them has been
lost
The fire was caused by the burst
ing of lantern. The total loss is
not known yet. Six elephants burst
through the blazing walls and were
followed by q hlppopotamus. They
tore through the streets of Bridge
port Yelling with pain. They pre-
sented sickening appearance, being
burned here and there on their bod
les. The fremen were afraid to ap-
proach the building on account OF the
Gagged beasts.
The upper portion of the building
was filed with hay and all the para
phernalia of the great show. Three
elephants were burned up. Their
roars and trumpeting and sounds OF
torment were terrific Six elephants
and large African hippopotamus
rushed about the street presenting
sickening appearance. Their sides
were burned and great pieces OF
flesh a foot square fell off Thirty
elephants and large lion made their
escape, eud have started off across
country toward Fairfield and Easton.
Great alarm has seized great many
residents of the West End and they
have taken refuge within Their
houses with windows barred. Will
liam Newman, the elephant trainer is
out OF town and the keepers were not
able in the excitement to hold the
frightened animals. In the horse
room were all the ring animals, train
ed stations, ponies, etc. These were
all burned. In the upper rooms were
the tents, poles, seats, harness, etc,
for the entire show, and these, too,
were all destroyed. Ia the cat-room
were the birds, monkeys. thre- rhino-
ceri, hyenas, tigers, lions and all the
menagerie, which fell q prey TO the
flames. So rapidly did the flames
leap across the main building that
the fireman made no attempt to save
it, but tnTned their streams upon the
chariots buildings and car sheds,
which they succeeded in saving. but
the heat was so intense that this was
accomplished with the greatest diff
Guilty.
The total loss is estimated at 500,
900 upon which there was but 500,
900 insurance.
Before the building went down
Barnuo's agents were busy making
arrangements for obtaining a new lot
of attractions to supply the loss.
The watchman making his rounds
discovered the fire snd started to give
the alarm, when some unknown per-
son hit him on the head with blunt
instrument, telling blm TO the gfouuo
and cutting q number of severe
gashes ia his head. He staggered to
his feet and gave the alarm, enabling
the other watcbmen, who were pre-
paring for bed. to escape.
One of the three elephants burned
was the sacred white elephant. The
lion which the police attempted to
kill at the time the fire broke out was
afterward found in barn devouring
COW which he had killed, He was
shot. The fire is now out.
Mr. Barnum's Bridgeport agent
stated that the show-buiiding would
be rebuilt, but not in Bridgeport.
The great show would probably go
to Jersey City, where better railroad
facilities could be had.